Biopsychology

Question 1

What is the main structure of the nervous system?

Answer 1

The brain and the spinal cord

Question 2

What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) do?

Answer 2

Relays messages from the environment to the CNS and from the CNS to effectors

Question 3

What are the two subdivisions of the PNS?

Answer 3

• Autonomic nervous system
• Somatic nervous system

Question 4

What functions does the autonomic nervous system control?

Answer 4

Involuntary, vital functions of the body, such as maintaining heart rates and breathing rates

Question 5

What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 5

• Sympathetic
• Parasympathetic

Question 6

What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 6

Increases heart rate, breathing rate, causes vasoconstriction and pupil dilation

Question 7

What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 7

Decreases heart rate, breathing rates, causes vasodilation and pupil constriction

Question 8

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 8

The main chemical messenger system of the body

Question 9

What is the function of hormones in the endocrine system?

Answer 9

Secreted into the bloodstream from glands and transported to target cells

Question 10

What is considered the ‘master’ gland in the endocrine system?

Answer 10

The pituitary gland

Question 11

What hormone does the thyroid release?

Answer 11

Thyroxine

Question 12

What effect does thyroxine have on the body?

Answer 12

Increases heart rate and the rate of growth

Question 13

What hormone does the adrenal gland release?

Answer 13

Adrenaline

Question 14

What physiological response does adrenaline create?

Answer 14

Physiological arousal preceding the fight or flight response

Question 15

What is the first step in the fight or flight response?

Answer 15

The body senses and becomes aware of a stressor in the environment

Question 16

What role does the hypothalamus play in the fight or flight response?

Answer 16

Coordinates a response and triggers increased activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS

Question 17

What happens when adrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla?

Answer 17

It is transported to target effectors via the blood

Question 18

What are some physiological effects of the fight or flight response?

Answer 18

• Rectum contracting
• Saliva production inhibited
• Greater breathing rate

Question 19

What occurs after the stressor is no longer a threat?

Answer 19

The hypothalamus triggers less activity in the sympathetic branch and more in the parasympathetic branch

Question 20

What is the ‘rest and digest’ response?

Answer 20

Decreased activity originally increased by the sympathetic branch

Question 21

What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 21

A method of neurons communicating with each other

Question 22

What initiates synaptic transmission?

Answer 22

An action potential arriving at the presynaptic membrane

Question 23

What happens during depolarization in synaptic transmission?

Answer 23

Opening of voltage-dependent calcium ion channels and influx of calcium ions

Question 24

What occurs when calcium ions increase in concentration at the presynaptic membrane?

Answer 24

Vesicles containing neurotransmitter fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release contents

Question 25

What happens to the neurotransmitter after it is released into the synaptic cleft?

Answer 25

It diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to complementary receptors on the post-synaptic membrane

Question 26

What can be the effect of neurotransmitters on the postsynaptic membrane?

Answer 26

* Inhibitory * Excitatory

Question 27

What is the effect of inhibitory neurotransmitters like serotonin?

Answer 27

Reduces potential difference across the postsynaptic membrane

Question 28

What is the effect of excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine?

Answer 28

Increases potential difference across the postsynaptic membrane

Question 29

function of the endocrine system?

Answer 29

a collection of glands that secrete hormones into the system to its target organ controlled by the pituitary gland

Question 30

name some endocrine glands, the hormone it releases and the effects

Answer 30

Adrenal medulla- releases adrenaline which creates the fight or flight response which means an increased heart rate and more blood flow pineal gland- releases melatonin which regulates biological rhythms such as the sleep wake cycle MSH - Melanocyte stimulating hormone - stimulates the production and release of pigment in hair and skin oxytocin- promote uterine contraction TSH- thyroid stimulates thyroxine release

Question 31

describe the dual stress response

Answer 31

the amygdala is mobilized and sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus and communicates through the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the adrenal medulla which releases adrenaline and has the following symptoms: pupils dilated, increased blood flow to muscles, reduced digestive system

Question 32

what is localisation of function in the brain?

Answer 32

brings the debate the function in the brain is localised or holistic

Question 33

describe the frontal lobe

Answer 33

regulate cognition and reasoning. damage to the frontal lobe lead to changes in personality also contains the motor area - which controls voluntary movement on the other side of the body (contralateral) damage may mean a loss of control in fine movements

Question 34

describe the parietal lobe

Answer 34

responsible for sensation and perception such as the body's 5 senses damage will lead to unability to read write and reason also contains the somatosensory area reads sensory information from the skin damage would lead to agnosia (inability to recognise objects from touch)

Question 34

describe the temporal lobes

Answer 34

to form long term memories and processing new information. damage can lead to difficulty in processing auditory and visual sensations. contains wernickes and Broca's area- broca needed for speech production. wernickes- speech comphrension- together damage leads to global aphasia